Sunday, April 4, 2010

MGMT's New Album, Congratulations

A: CongratulationsQ: Statement uttered to stereotypical MGMT fan for making it through all of their latest album.

Isn't it fitting the title track is the last song on the album? It follows the album's most awkwardly rad song "Lady Dada's Nightmare." Picturing a room full of high school kids listening to this song with confused expressions and hands covering their ears puts a smile on my face every time. The preceding song, "Brian Eno," is probably the most danceable song, unless you call the Hippie Flail a dance. Outside of "Brian Eno" though, this album is going to be very unpopular with many fans.

After a few listens to Congratulations, I'm starting to think MGMT was a psychedelic electro-jam band all along, but accidentally hit it big with "Kids" and "Time to Pretend." Could they dislike their casual fan base more than a clam hates chowder?

It only takes listening to the first ten seconds of this album to realize they are talented musicians making interesting music. MGMT could put out an entirely instrumental album, and it would still be more interesting than 91.8% of the music being produced today. The drum beats are even notable on a couple songs. After not listening to Oracular Spectacular in several months, I couldn't recall if they even had drums.

If this album was created by anyone other than MGMT, there would be an entirely different type of buzz, and the album would be praised as a retro forward thinking classic (what's better than an oxymoron to make a point). As is, it could be the most polarizing album many of us have ever heard, in which people will either think it is the biggest pile of feces they've wasted 45 minutes listening to, or one of the more entertaining albums they can't wait to tell their friends about.

Damn you MGMT for drastically increasing my interest of seeing you at Sasquatch. I had guilt free wandering between other stages planned for that slot, but now I'm stuck as a mainstage camper. Maybe MGMT will do us all a favor, and play "Kids" first, so the greeks can head to the dance tent early. If not, I'm going to be torn by the Ween Live vs. Popped Collar dilemma. If you see a bored MGMT fan with a popped collar yelling "PLAY KIDS" in between songs, then see him getting choked by said popped collar, followed by ruckus and security intervention, come introduce yourself to me as I am being escorted out of the venue.

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By the way, I consider myself a terrible writer with mildly entertaining ideas, so if there are any grammar experts out there who would like to drop me a few pointers, you can email me at knowidyuh@gmail.com.

If you would like to tell me how much I suck, you can email me as well.

Vote for MGMT or any of your favourite vinyl album covers of the year! Congratulations is one of the nominees for Best Art Vinyl 2010. To check out the nominations or to vote yourself, go to http://www.artvinyl.com/en/nominate/nominations.html